Research reveals that naturally laid oak silkworm eggs produce a volatile compound called 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH) that acts as a natural repellent, reducing parasitism. This discovery provides a new perspective on how insects protect their offspring and could have practical applications for optimizing biological control programmes.
A new study identifies butterfly species most sensitive to environmental change, offering a practical framework for monitoring biodiversity and assessing forest restoration. The research highlights the conservation importance of specialist butterflies and their declining populations due to habitat loss.
A new study found that air pollution can disrupt insect communication by chemically altering pheromones. Ozone pollution degrades pheromone signals in moths, reducing mating success and threatening pheromone-based pest control strategies.
Researchers analyzed solitary mason bee gut metagenomes to understand how urban environments shape diet, microbiome stability, pathogen exposure, and antibiotic resistance. The study found that bees' gut ecosystems containing both bacteria and viruses are more resilient than bacteria-only communities.
A new international study published in Insect Science offers a more complex picture of insect populations. High-flying migratory insects have remained largely stable over nine decades, but agricultural pests are on the rise, posing a persistent threat to food security.